here is the story on him
Slain 16-year-old was innocent, not a gang member, aunt says
By STEVE E. SWENSON, Californian staff writer
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Posted: Wednesday August 3rd, 2005, 11:20 PM
Last Updated: Wednesday August 3rd, 2005, 11:25 PM
Deshontae Wright loved his pit bull dog, Bogie, and he loved to create his own rap music, but he died after being shot in the head Monday night, family and officials revealed Wednesday.
The 16-year-old former student at West High School was in the back seat of a white sedan with other young men when someone fired shots into the car in the 3000 block of South Chester Avenue, Bakersfield police said.
His aunt, Mary Strickland, who was one of a stream of people visiting the boy's family Wednesday, said the bullets couldn't have been meant for Wright.
"My baby was innocent," Strickland said. "He was not a gang member. He was just going to see a girl."
Strickland said it was her understanding that the guys in the car with Wright were going over to see some girls when shots rang out.
While at least one other person who was in the car with Wright said they were out looking for girls, the other three in the car have been arrested on suspicion of participating in a street gang and possession of a firearm by a gang member, Detective Mary DeGeare said Wednesday.
Bakersfield police said one person in the sedan returned fire, but she declined to say who. DeGeare said no gun associated with the sedan has been found.
At the time of the shots, a 19-year-old man, Keon Andre Brakenridge, was driving the car, a white Kia, DeGeare said. A 17-year-old was in the front seat and a 16-year-old was in the back seat with Wright, she said.
Those in the Kia took Wright to Mercy Hospital, where he died Tuesday afternoon.
Police stopped a silver Chrysler with the 16-year-old in it shortly after Wright was dropped off at the hospital, DeGeare said. The 16-year-old was still bloody.
Brakenridge was arrested when he returned to the hospital in the Kia, and the 17-year-old was arrested at his home on Tuesday, DeGeare said.
Wright's mother, Juanita Galvan, and other family members were making funeral arrangements Wednesday afternoon. Galvan was too distraught to comment.
Friends of Wright held a car wash Wednesday at Walgreens Drug Store on Brundage Lane near Chester Avenue to help the family with funeral expenses.
Wright's 12-year-old sister, Wiltranita Galvan, said her brother liked his dog, singing his own rap music and making model cars.
She said he liked to have fun.
"If I was sad, he would make me happy," Wiltranita said.
She said she and her brother liked to go swimming at Hart Park or in the Kern River near Beach Park.
Strickland also said her nephew liked to have a good time.
"He liked to joke," she said. "He'd laugh even when it wasn't funny."
She said he "wanted to get married and have lots of babies."
Another aunt, Latessa Thompson, said Wright was a good baby-sitter who took care of her five children. "He played games, watched TV and movies with them," she said.
Wright attended West High School in 2004 and Vista School for part of this year. His sister said he used to help her with her homework and he was looking forward to going back to West this year as a junior.
Police continued to look for Greg Conley, 32, in connection with the shooting of Wright. Anyone with information on Conley's whereabouts is asked to call police at 327-7111.
Police are also investigating whether the shooting of Davon Richardson, 30, in the ankle was related to the shooting of Wright, DeGeare said. Richardson showed up at Mercy Hospital shortly after Wright was dropped off, she said.